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Celeb News: Ian Thorpe: Dating men is hard
Member Since: 12/15/2011
Posts: 9,940
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Ian Thorpe: Dating men is hard
on dating
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He’s also actively looking for someone to share that future with.
This is where things get tricky.
At home as he is in the pool, there’s one place Thorpe finds himself all at sea.
“Dating’s been a lot harder than I thought it would be,” he confesses.
“It’s an absolute mess out there! I’m like, ‘Where are all the normal people?’ “I’ve never really dated, so I’ve come in being almost completely blindsided by this.
“I think if someone puts an effort into a date, then full points – it’s not like I’m a hard marker. But there are some nut cases. It’s just a bit weird.
“But that’s the dating scene – I say it and I laugh and I’ve got a smile on my face, so it’s not that bad.”
Thorpe’s checklist is short: Mr Right must a) not be crazy, and b) be based in Australia.
He steers clear of dating apps and websites, preferring to “go more old-school and meet people in real life” at restaurants and friends’ homes.
He’s been on a couple of second and third dates, but no “relationship” has developed.
“I’ve mostly met great guys but, occasionally, I’ve met a couple of douche-y guys as well. It’s enough motivation for me to want to settle down with someone away from that scene,” Thorpe says.
Listening to Thorpe talk openly and confidently about his search for Mr Right after years spent denying his sexuality, it’s impossible not to feel like cheering.
We joke about using water as a metaphor for his new life.
Ian Thorpe: back in the swim. Diving in at the deep end.
“Up the creek without a paddle,” he says with a laugh.
Asked whether his fame is a help or a hindrance in meeting men, he quips: “I’ll use it as an excuse if I’m not doing well.”
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on coming out
Quote:
In his 2012 autobiography, This is Me, Thorpe revealed he’d considered suicide and had drunk huge quantities of alcohol to deal with “crippling depression”.
Last year, he checked himself into rehab.
Thorpe was also hounded by questions about his sexuality from the age of 16.
Early on, he says, he felt he had backed himself into a corner.
“Because it was always put to me in a kind of accusatory tone that it’s a bad thing, I thought ‘I don’t know how I’m supposed to respond, as a child and then as an adult, to this,’” he says.
“That was the problem – I was asked when I was far too young and then my response was ‘I’m not’.
“Then I didn’t want to change the lie. It makes it very difficult.
“I felt like I’d betrayed people by being dishonest about it.
“But it’s done now,” he adds.
“I hope it makes it easier for whoever is the next athlete who wants to come out.”
Thorpe says once he decided to tell the truth, he wanted the world to know.
“The first person I told was a friend, but then it was like bang, bang, bang, next person – I did it all in a day,” he says.
“I really woke up one day and I said, ‘I’m ready to come out. I’m over this.’ It’s as simple as that.”
Two weeks later, he gave the interview to Parkinson and made international news.
“I was asked, ‘Why don’t you just get on with it without being publicly out until you get used to it?’” Thorpe says.
“But I kind of thought that wasn’t fronting up to being honest with myself. So I said, ‘No, I’m going to come out publicly; I’m comfortable with coming out to everyone.’”
Thorpe’s mum, Margaret, and dad, Ken, were surprised by their son’s revelation, but gave him love and support.
“I get a lot of letters from young people asking, ‘How do you come out?’ and I think, ‘I’m the wrong person to ask!’” says Thorpe, who was once linked to US swimming champion Amanda Beard and sports presenter Lee Watson.
“But you get a team behind you. You work out the friend, or parent, who’s going to support you the most, and you keep on adding people to the team.”
The idea that he might pave the way for other gay people struggling with their sexuality didn’t occur to him.
“I didn’t understand that part at all,” he admits.
“I wish someone had explained that to me a lot earlier. I probably would have come out earlier if I realised.
“I didn’t think it was relevant, I didn’t think it mattered. But it does.”
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Member Since: 11/4/2010
Posts: 34,287
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Insert I_volunteer_as_tribute.gif
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 10/8/2011
Posts: 32,133
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Wait @ me just discovering this goddess because of this thread.
I love you hot mess.
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Member Since: 8/24/2012
Posts: 3,734
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 1/2/2014
Posts: 5,161
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Date me king
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 10/8/2011
Posts: 32,133
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Quote:
Originally posted by rimf
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Bitch LEAVE!
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Member Since: 9/17/2011
Posts: 13,150
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Member Since: 8/31/2013
Posts: 21,462
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We have like 10% of the population to even potentially date.
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Member Since: 8/19/2011
Posts: 10,690
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Quote:
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‘How do you come out?’ and I think, ‘I’m the wrong person to ask!’” says Thorpe, who was once linked to US swimming champion Amanda Beard
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Member Since: 12/16/2008
Posts: 59,380
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Member Since: 3/15/2013
Posts: 10,989
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These gay guys coming out of nowhere. Thank you ATRL.
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 10/8/2011
Posts: 32,133
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Quote:
Originally posted by AnneBoleyn
He's gay?
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Finally a man you can't have hehehe 
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 9,929
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I'm a very nice and loving person. Please consider my application
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Member Since: 8/7/2015
Posts: 11,012
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He's not good looking to me but he's cute.
I can't ever see myself settling down with a man. I just can't. Could you imagine?
I mean, I want a wife and kids but I can't because I'm gay.
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 23,375
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I forgot he went to rehab too, lordt I swear to god all Olympic swimmers are a ****ing mess 
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Thorpe’s mum, Margaret, and dad, Ken, were surprised by their son’s revelation, but gave him love and support.
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 talk about being in denial
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Member Since: 8/7/2015
Posts: 9,420
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He's adorable 
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 11/4/2010
Posts: 26,597
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AMANDA BEARD
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Member Since: 8/24/2012
Posts: 3,734
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Quote:
Originally posted by Rocky
Bitch LEAVE!
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 10/8/2011
Posts: 32,133
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Quote:
Originally posted by Bey Admired
He's not good looking to me but he's cute.
I can't ever see myself settling down with a man. I just can't. Could you imagine?
I mean, I want a wife and kids but I can't because I'm gay.
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Who needs those annoying kids anyway. Them dicks are the answer.
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Member Since: 6/25/2011
Posts: 28,853
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Quote:
Originally posted by Bey Admired
He's not good looking to me but he's cute.
I can't ever see myself settling down with a man. I just can't. Could you imagine?
I mean, I want a wife and kids but I can't because I'm gay.
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What is this? 
You can have a family with your husband. Unless you're just truly ashamed of the idea of that.
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